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4 injured when car crashes into Missouri day care

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A car came crashing into a Kansas City day care center Tuesday when a sport utility vehicle rear-ended a parked Cadillac, injuring the SUV's driver and three children, police said.

The Cadillac was parked and had no driver when the Range Rover rear-ended it, pushing it into the day care and trapping two children under the Cadillac. The three children were being treated for mild to moderate injuries, said Children's Mercy spokeswoman Jessica Salazar. The SUV's driver, meanwhile, was in stable condition at a hospital, said Kansas City police Capt. Tye Grant.

The injured children were among about 40 inside the Christian Academy Child Care east of downtown around 1 p.m. when the accident happened. Police said the SUV's driver was "approximately 80" years old. A utility pole also was struck, Grant said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation. As neighbors milled around watching, crews pulled the smashed SUV from the building several hours after the crash, making visible a pile of rubble inside the day care center. Several child-sized chairs were strewn on the sidewalk outside.

"We are holding all comments until we get some clear facts," said day care director Dena Washington as she waited behind a nearby house for parents — several of them crying — to pick up their children.

Curtis Sawyer, whose 1- and 2-year-old children attend the day care, said he rushed to the area after receiving a phone call about the accident.

"It was shocking to me," said Sawyer, 33, as he held the older child in his arms. "I'm just glad my kids are safe, and I'm sorry for the kids that got hurt. My heart and prayers go out to their families."

Sharon Washington said she was feeling "very relieved" as she walked up to the center to visit with staff. Three of her grandchildren — ages 5, 8 and 1 — attend the center but were staying with her when the accident happened.

"We were lucky we weren't in the day care," said her 8-year-old grandchild, Timmisha Washington. "They ran over me and my brother's classroom. We lucky. We lucky."